Interesting facts
Did you know?
- Nematodes are the most abundant animals on the planet
- It is estimated that there are 57 billion nematodes for every human being on the planet, i.e. 57 000 000 000
- Nematodes colonize all types of habitats and some are parasites of animals or plants
- Nematodes can be microscopic (0.18 mm) or gigantic (over 3 m long)
- Some nematodes are very useful in controlling pests, indicating soil and water quality, and research on aging and disease
- Plant-parasitic nematodes can parasitize all parts of plants: roots, stems, leaves, seeds or tubers – but they mainly affect plant roots
- Nematodes move slowly and in short distances in soil, but they can travel thousands of kilometres in contaminated equipment and agricultural products
- Nematodes are so important that the Nobel Prize has already been awarded three times to scientists working with nematodes (in 2002, 2008 and 2015)?
